brainSTEM
By Hilary Marusak
brainSTEMJul 07, 2021
E17 – Afraid: Understanding the Purpose of Fear and Harnessing the Power of Anxiety
In this Halloween special episode, Dr. Marusak interviews Dr. Arash Javanbakht, a psychiatrist and director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic (STARC) at Wayne State University about fear and his new book, “Afraid”. They discuss the purpose of fear, fear-based disorders, such as anxiety and PTSD, why we like to be scared (e.g., rollercoasters, haunted houses), some surprising benefits of fear, and more.
We are giving away a free signed copy of Dr. Javanbakt's book! See our @brainstempodcast social media before November 7, 2023, for details. To learn more about Dr. Javanbakt, visit: https://www.starclab.org & https://www.instagram.com/arash_javanbakht/. To learn more about Dr. Javanbakt’s new book, visit: https://www.amazon.com/Afraid-Understanding-Purpose-Harnessing-Anxiety/dp/1538170388.
Help is available 24 hours/day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Production by Amanpreet Bhogal, Manmeet Bhogal, and Gabby Maramag. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Society for Neuroscience and Michigan Society for Neuroscience.
Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions. Visit our website: www.brainSTEMpodcast.com. Our video podcasts are also posted on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2LTYvOoFc6L7p2kUMaFhCA/videos
E16 – Baby on Board: How Pregnancy Shapes “Mommy Brain”
First, Dr. Marusak talks with her best friend, Kristen Ciantro. Kristen is a stay-at-home mom with four kids (the fourth was actually born right before this episode aired!) and a degree in electrical engineering. Then, Dr. Marusak talks with Dr. Bridget Callaghan, an Assistant Professor of Psychology at The University of California, Los Angeles, where she directs the Brain & Body Lab. Together with her lab, Dr. Callaghan studies the impacts of early caregiving relationships on mental and physical health outcomes across the lifespan and into the next generation.
To learn more about Dr. Callaghan’s work, you can follow her and her lab on social media @Dr_BCallaghan and @BABLab_UCLA or visit her lab’s website: https://brainandbodylab.psych.ucla.edu/. Additional recommended readings/resources: “Baby Brain” by Dr. Sarah McKay and Psychology Today’s Find a Therapist Tool on their website: www.psychologytoday.com.
Help is available 24 hours/day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio and video by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Society for Neuroscience and Michigan Society for Neuroscience.
Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions. Visit our website: www.brainSTEMpodcast.com. Our video podcasts are also posted on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2LTYvOoFc6L7p2kUMaFhCA/videos.
E15 - Air Pollution and the Brain: Unhazing the Impact of the Environment on Brain Health
This special episode features an interview with Dr. Clara Zundel, Ph.D., about recent research on the impact of air pollution on the brain and mental health. Dr. Zundel is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University’s School of Medicine. Her work focuses on how environmental toxins, such as air pollution, impact brain and behavior and increase risk for psychiatric disorders across the lifespan.
To learn more about our research studies, visit www.wsuthinklab.com. To obtain real-time updates and forecasts on air quality in your area, visit www.airnow.gov.
Help is available 24 hours/day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio and video by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Society for Neuroscience and Michigan Society for Neuroscience.
Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions. Visit our website: www.brainSTEMpodcast.com. Our video podcasts are also posted on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2LTYvOoFc6L7p2kUMaFhCA/videos.
E14 – Brain Stimulation: Electric Insights and New Approaches in Psychiatry
In this special episode, Dr. Marusak talks with Dr. Greg Fonzo, Ph.D. about recent advances in brain stimulation used in his lab and others. Dr. Fonzo is an Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. Dr. Fonzo’s research encompasses two main themes. First, his laboratory utilizes non-invasive neuroscience tools such as neuroimaging and neuromodulatory probes to understand neurobiological mechanisms of stress-related mental health disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and major depression. Second, his laboratory is focused on designing novel neuroscience-informed interventions to alleviate mental health symptoms, with a particular focus on psychedelic-assisted therapies and neuromodulation
To learn more about Dr. Fonzo's work, visit https://sites.utexas.edu/fonzolab/. To learn about the Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy at UTexas, visit: https://dellmed.utexas.edu/units/center-for-psychedelic-research-and-therapy
The ultrasound footage is courtesy of OneMind.org.
Help is available 24 hours/day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio and video by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Society for Neuroscience and Michigan Society for Neuroscience.
Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions. Visit our website: www.brainSTEMpodcast.com. Our video podcasts are also posted on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2LTYvOoFc6L7p2kUMaFhCA/videos.
E13 – OCD: Delving into Compulsions and Intrusions
First, Dr. Marusak talks with Johnny Crowder, a suicide/abuse survivor, TEDx speaker, touring musician, mental health & sobriety advocate, and the Founder & CEO of Cope Notes, a text-based mental health platform that provides daily support to users in nearly 100 countries around the world. Then, she speaks with Dr. Christopher Pittenger, a clinician-scientist with expertise in the neurobiology and treatment of OCD at Yale University School of Medicine.
To learn more about COPE notes, visit: copenotes.com. For a link to Johnny's first TEDx talk, which covers thought patterns & why the brain does what it does, visit: copenotes.com/tedx. Visit the International OCD Foundation's website for facts and information about OCD, and resources, including find a therapist who specializes in OCD: iocdf.org. Help is available 24 hours/day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio and video by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Society for Neuroscience and Michigan Society for Neuroscience.
Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions. Visit our website: www.brainSTEMpodcast.com. Our video podcasts are also posted on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2LTYvOoFc6L7p2kUMaFhCA/videos.
E12 - Decoding Antisocial Behavior: Perspectives from a Neuroscientist/Psychologist
This special episode covers antisocial behavior, with an interview with neuroscientist and psychologist Dr. Luke Hyde. Dr. Hyde is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan. His work focuses on how adversity and inequality impact child brain and behavior development with an additional focus on the development of behavior problems and antisocial behavior in youth and adults.
To learn more about Dr. Hyde's research, visit: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mindlab/. For a link to the Aftermath: Surviving Psychopathology Foundation, visit: aftermath-surviving-psychopathy.org/. The CDC website has science- and evidence-based practices for parenting: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/index.html. For parents who are worried about their child's behaviors, look for a child psychologist or social worker and ask them what sort of science- and evidence-based interventions they use. You can also Google "parent management training near me". Help is available 24 hours/day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio and video by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Society for Neuroscience and Michigan Society for Neuroscience.
Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions. Visit our website: www.brainSTEMpodcast.com. Our video podcasts are also posted on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJA47yll5ffIZ_xZgXqPiw/featured.
E11 - Burnout in Healthcare: Understanding the Toll on the Healers
Dr. Marusak talks with Dr. Sunny S. Lou, MD, PhD, about burnout among medical professionals. Dr. Lou is a fellow in the Division of Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Lou’s research interests include leveraging information from the electronic health record to develop models for clinical decision support and to improve anesthesiology workflow. For a video version of this episode, visit our BrainSTEMpodcast Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJA47yll5ffIZ_xZgXqPiw/featured.
To learn more about Dr. Lou’s research, visit: sslou.rbind.io. For resources for medical providers experiencing burnout: American Psychiatric Association. Help is available 24 hours/day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio and video by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Society for Neuroscience and Michigan Society for Neuroscience.
Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions. Visit our website: www.brainSTEMpodcast.com.
E10 – Pediatric PTSD: Taking a Deeper Dive into Childhood Trauma’s Lingering Shadows (Spotify Video Version)
First, Dr. Marusak talks with Vara, a young cancer survivor with PTSD symptoms. Then, she talks with Dr. Ryan Herringa, a child psychiatrist and neuroscientist at University of Wisconsin who specializes in the treatment and study of childhood traumatic stress and PTSD.
To learn more about Dr. Herringa's research, visit the BRAVE Research Center's website: brave.psychiatry.wisc.edu. For resources for children and families, visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, the Trevor Project, and the National Institute of Mental Health. A local pediatrician or counselor can refer to a mental health provider, or Psychology Today's website. Help is available 24 hours/day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio and video by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Society for Neuroscience and Michigan Society for Neuroscience.
Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions. Visit our website: www.brainSTEMpodcast.com.
E09 – Psychedelics in Psychiatry: New Frontiers of Healing (Spotify Video Version)
First, Dr. Marusak talks with two black women therapists about psychedelics: Jamilah George (@MilahSingz), a Clinical Psychology PhD student, and Sara Reed (@minds_health), a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and CEO of a mental health technology company called Minds iHealth Solutions. Then, she talks with Dr. Jessica Maples, a researcher at Emory University who specializes in exposure-based treatments for PTSD, including psychedelic augmentation of psychotherapy such as MDMA and psilocybin.
To learn more about psychedelic research, visit: https://medium.com/north-star/the-shadows-you-wont-face-dd586fa57716 https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2020/09/21/psychedelic-medicine-will-it-be-accessible-to-all/ https://psychedelicstoday.com/2020/09/01/sara-reed-ketamine-therapy-through-a-culturally-responsible-lens/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212144719301218?via%3Dihub https://www.mindsihealth.com/ https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/4/3/article-p125.xml https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/4/1/article-p4.xml https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/4/3/article-p146.xml. To learn about the Grady Trauma Project, visit
gradytraumaproject.com. To learn more about Dr. Jessica Maples-Keller, go to: jessmaples.wixsite.com/website-1.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio and video by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions.
E10 – Pediatric PTSD: Taking a Deeper Dive into Childhood Trauma’s Lingering Shadows
First, Dr. Marusak talks with Vara, a young cancer survivor with PTSD symptoms. Then, she talks with Dr. Ryan Herringa, a child psychiatrist and neuroscientist at University of Wisconsin who specializes in the treatment and study of childhood traumatic stress and PTSD. For a video version of this episode, visit our BrainSTEMpodcast Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJA47yll5ffIZ_xZgXqPiw/featured.
To learn more about Dr. Herringa's research, visit the BRAVE Research Center's website: brave.psychiatry.wisc.edu. For resources for children and families, visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, the Trevor Project, and the National Institute of Mental Health. A local pediatrician or counselor can refer to a mental health provider, or Psychology Today's website. Help is available 24 hours/day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Society for Neuroscience and Michigan Society for Neuroscience.
Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions. Visit our website: www.brainSTEMpodcast.com.
E09 - Psychedelics in Psychiatry: New Frontiers of Healing
First, Dr. Marusak talks with two black women therapists who specialize in psychedelic psychotherapy: Jamilah George (@MilahSingz), a Clinical Psychology PhD student, and Sara Reed (@minds_health), a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and CEO of a mental health technology company called Minds iHealth Solutions. Then, she talks with Dr. Jessica Maples, a researcher at Emory University who specializes in exposure-based treatments for PTSD, including psychedelic augmentation of psychotherapy such as MDMA and psilocybin. For a video version of this episode, visit our BrainSTEMpodcast Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJA47yll5ffIZ_xZgXqPiw/featured.
Interested in learning more about psychedelics and psychedelic research? https://medium.com/north-star/the-shadows-you-wont-face-dd586fa57716. https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2020/09/21/psychedelic-medicine-will-it-be-accessible-to-all/. https://psychedelicstoday.com/2020/09/01/sara-reed-ketamine-therapy-through-a-culturally-responsible-lens/. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212144719301218?via%3Dihub . https://www.mindsihealth.com/. https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/4/3/article-p125.xml . https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/4/1/article-p4.xml. https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/4/3/article-p146.xml. To learn about the Grady Trauma Project, visit http://gradytraumaproject.com/. To learn more about Dr. Jessica Maples-Keller, go to https://jessmaples.wixsite.com/website-1
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions.
E08 - PTSD: Unearthing Trauma’s Deep Roots in the Mind
Dr. Marusak first interviews Dan Zia Joseph, an Army Officer in California serving as a Combat Engineering Platoon Leader while he completes a Masters in Psychology. Then, she talks with Dr. Tanja Jovanovic, a neuroscientist who specializes in the study of PTSD Neurobiology at Wayne State University.
To learn more about Dan and “combat psychology”, visit: www.combatpsych.com. Jiu Jitsu for veterans with military connected disabilities: https://www.wedefyfoundation.org/. Follow Dan on instagram @CombatPsychology. To learn more about Dr. Jovanovic's research and a list of resources, visit https://www.detroittraumaproject.com/ or follow on twitter @DTP_Wayne.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions.
E07 – Schizophrenia: The Neuroscience of the Fragmented Mind
First, Dr. Marusak talks to Lindsay Rauch, the youngest of 12 siblings and 6 of the siblings had schizophrenia. Her family was the personal focus of a fantastic book called ‘Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family”, which also gives a wonderful history of schizophrenia in the US . Then, Dr. Marusak interviews Dr. Gil Hoftman, a psychiatrist and researcher at UCLA who specializes in the study and treatment of schizophrenia.
Resources: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website (nami.org) and the Henry Amador Center on Anosognosia website (HAcenter.org), the Galvin Family Trust (GalvinFamilyTrust@gmail.com). The book about Lindsay's family can be found on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Hidden-Valley-Road-Inside-American/dp/038554376X .
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions
E06 – Human-Animal Interactions and Mental Health: Unleashing the Healing Power of our Animal Companions
Dr. Marusak interviews Niki Vettel, a registered pet therapy handler who specializes in addiction disorders & trauma. Then, she talks to Dr. Megan Mueller, a researcher at Tufts University who specializes in the study of human-animal interactions, including pet ownership and animal-assisted interactions. To see our special podcast guest, Calvin, tune in to the video version of this podcast our Youtube channel!
To learn more about Dr. Mueller's research, visit: facultyprofiles.tufts.edu/megan-mueller. Interested in pet therapy or volunteering? Visit Pet Partners: petpartners.org. For more about research on human-animal interactions, visit the International Society for Anthrozoology's website.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions.
E05 - Prosopagnosia: Exploring the World of Face Blindness
Listen to KC talk about what life is like with developmental prosopagnosia or face blindness. Next, Dr. Marusak interviews Dr. Sherryse Corrow, a researcher at Bethel University who specializes in the study of prosopagnosia and high-level visual function.
To learn more about Dr. Corrow’s research, visit: www.bethel.edu/undergrad/academics/psychology/visual-cognition-lab/. Public support group with research: www.facebook.com/groups/117013401655030/. Private group: www.facebook.com/groups/prosopagnosia/. Group for finding research studies: www.facebook.com/groups/113051924074290. Information and resources for kids with developmental prosopagnosia: lab.faceblind.org/dpkids/resources.html.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions.
E04 – COVID-19 Unmasked: Impact on the Brain
Dr. Marusak interviews Dr. Jennifer Frontera, a neurologist and Professor at NYU, about the neurological effects of COVID-19, including stroke and “long COVID”. She then talks to Dr. Krystal Lewis, a licensed clinical psychologist at the NIMH, about the mental health impacts of the pandemic.
For those struggling with persistent COVID-19 symptoms visit support groups such as Body Politic. For mental health resources, visit the CDC and NIMH websites, and find a therapist in your area at Psychology Today. If you are in a crisis, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish.
BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions.
E03 - Concussion & CTE: Unmasking the Brain’s Silent Battle
Dr. Marusak talks with Darren Leins, a former college football player who grew up around football, about head injuries and potential chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) symptoms. She then talks with Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, a physician and researcher who specializes in the study and treatment of head injuries and CTE.
Read Darren's story here. For resources, please visit the Concussion Legacy Foundation's website concussionlegacyfoundation.org. If you think you or a loved one may be struggling with symptoms of concussion or CTE, contact the CLF helpline at concussionlegacyfoundation.org/helpline. For information about CrashCourse, a video-based educational experience about concussion for students and youth sports organizations, visit teachaids.org/for-concussions/crashcourse/.
Hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions.
E02 – Tourette Syndrome: Beyond the Tics – Unveiling a Neurological Portrait
Dr. Marusak interviews Craig "Tourettes Cop" about what life is like with Tourette syndrome. She then talks to Dr. Deanna Greene, a cognitive neuroscientist at UCSD, about the brain basis of Tourette syndrome.
Follow Tourettes cop on instagram. To learn more about Dr. Greene's research, click here. For resources, visit the Tourette Association of America.
Hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Audio by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal. Subscribe, share, and follow us! Email us with topic or guest suggestions.
E01 - Behind the Mic: Meet the Host!
Meet the host, Dr. Hilary Marusak, a neuroscientist who studies brain development, trauma, childhood anxiety disorders, and PTSD. Dr. Marusak discusses the format and goals of the brainSTEM podcast. Audio by Amanpreet & Manmeet Bhogal.
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To learn more about Dr. Marusak's research, click here.